The allegation of extra judicial killings and rape leveled against soldiers of Joint Task Force Operation Restore Order (JTORO) on duty in Maiduguri calls for concern. First, are the perpetrators genuine Nigerian Army soldiers or have the story been cooked up and churned out to discredit the JTORO and whip up sentiments against it so that the troops can be withdrawn and the work of Boko Haram can continue unchecked? Second, why is it so easy for Nigerians to play primordial sentiments on all issues?
A task force was sent to the state of Abia to stamp out kidnapping in September 2010. The task force was led by a Muslim General of northern extraction and he carried out his tasks successfully without the citizenry screaming blue murder or rape throughout the duration of the operation. This same General led the JTF to the Niger Delta and no one from that region accused him of killing Christians or his soldiers raping women. Or was it that no woman lives in that region - all water and forest in the case of Abia? Why are northerners screaming rape and murder against JTORO because the force is led by a Christian General of Southern extraction? The Borno Elders forum was suddenly formed when JTORO arrived Maiduguri and not when Boko Haram launched its war of attrition against churches, Christians and other innocent people. I have goose pimples... and I weep for Nigeria.
Nigeria is not the only country in the world with diverse religions and multi-ethnic population. All Nigerian know the root of our problems and the solution. The will to do the right thing is simply absent precisely because of certain primordial sentiments and corruption which has become the twin religion of Nigerians. A recipe for disaster is being gradually put together. The government should urgently fish out the authors.... I hope there is still time!
A task force was sent to the state of Abia to stamp out kidnapping in September 2010. The task force was led by a Muslim General of northern extraction and he carried out his tasks successfully without the citizenry screaming blue murder or rape throughout the duration of the operation. This same General led the JTF to the Niger Delta and no one from that region accused him of killing Christians or his soldiers raping women. Or was it that no woman lives in that region - all water and forest in the case of Abia? Why are northerners screaming rape and murder against JTORO because the force is led by a Christian General of Southern extraction? The Borno Elders forum was suddenly formed when JTORO arrived Maiduguri and not when Boko Haram launched its war of attrition against churches, Christians and other innocent people. I have goose pimples... and I weep for Nigeria.
Nigeria is not the only country in the world with diverse religions and multi-ethnic population. All Nigerian know the root of our problems and the solution. The will to do the right thing is simply absent precisely because of certain primordial sentiments and corruption which has become the twin religion of Nigerians. A recipe for disaster is being gradually put together. The government should urgently fish out the authors.... I hope there is still time!
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